VT Agency Of Transportation Works to Establish Communication With Isolated Communities

(Host) 13 Vermont communities remain cut off from the outside world two
days after the remnants of Tropical Storm Irene dropped more than 10 inches of
rain on parts of the state.

The Vermont Agency
of Transportation is hoping to re-establish ground contact with all isolated
communities by the end of the day.

Deputy
transportation secretary Sue Minter says crews have been able to do emergency
repairs and open roads in some communities, but in other areas the damage is far more
extensive - especially where bridges are out or compromised in some way.

(Mintar) "The magnitude is really profound and unprecedented here. We are trying
to throw every resource we have - and more-to address these problems. The stories of neighbors helping neighbors
are so moving. But the extent of this damage in scale is very wide, and we are
seeing it all in terms of transportation infrastructure."

(Host) Minter says the key goal right now is to restore some kind of access to the communities that are completely cut off. Helicopters
have delivered emergency supplies to a number of those communities, and
special trucks have carried emergency supplies to areas with some access to the
outside world.